Stories from Thursday, January 22, 2009

Leo Frank Hall, 88, of Haley, died Wednesday at Bedford County Nursing Home. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Shofner's Lutheran Chapel with Dr. A. Richard Smith and Marty Nutter officiating. Burial, with military rites, will follow at Shofner's Lutheran Church Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. Hillcrest Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

"Change has come to America". This seems to be the slogan of the day as we, as a nation, have elected our 44th president of the United States of America, Barack Hussein Obama. I'm infamous for my strong conservative political opinions, and since President Obama was chosen by the people back in November of 2008, I've been dying to throw my two cents into the midst of political war between Democrats and Republicans...

Three terrified children were robbed at gunpoint at their family's Riverview Drive home Tuesday, Shelbyville police said. As one man held a gun on the children -- the oldest who is 14 -- during the entire ordeal while telling them not to be afraid, a second man took jewelry off the victims and from the home along with their cell phones and a video camera, police said. Total loss was over $3,500, according to the police report...

As people begin to think ahead toward the all-night Relay For Life walk in May, local organizers are holding a Show Us Your Hope kickoff Saturday night, Jan. 24, on the Courthouse Lawn. "Instead of our normal kickoff we decided to invite the whole community to the square and tell them a little about Relay For Life and let them help us celebrate the 25th year for Relay," said Wendy Stacy, local Relay For Life chair...

Two men accused of multiple counts of rape of a child have had their cases continued, with one undergoing a mental evaluation in Chattanooga. 79-year-old J.W. Frazier, of Carney Street, is currently in custody at Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute where evaluations are continuing, according to General Sessions Court Clerk Thomas Smith...

Bedford County Board of Commissioners' courthouse and county property committee voted Tuesday night to take bids on an asbestos assessment of the old Bedford County General Hospital building. An assessment, a study of whether or not the building contains asbestos, is considered essential if the county hopes to sell or demolish the building and sell the property...

Local woman Donna Phillips, who organized the local Obama campaign, felt compelled to travel to Washington, D.C., to witness the inauguration of Barack Obama. Not only did she feel compelled to travel there, but she brought a group of children -- two of them her own -- to partake in the historic events of Jan. 20...

The recent rash of restaurant closings announced by Ruby Tuesday's only included four in Tennessee, -- but not the one in Shelbyville. Whether that remains the case -- with another 30 or so restaurants slated to shut their doors in the near future -- is still unknown...

Regardless of race, faith, or political preference, this week's presidential inauguration grabbed the attention of people in record numbers, around the world. As 11 a.m. CST approached on this momentous day, I found myself anxiously trying to find a way to watch the ceremony...

Harris Middle's Eaglettes rolled past visiting Tullahoma West 41-10 Tuesday night. The Eaglettes (13-3, 10-1 CTC) were never challenged and posted leads of 15-4 at the end of the first quarter, 21-6 at halftime and 35-8 after three periods. Bree Horner had a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds to lead Harris while Monae Leslie added 12 points and 6 rebounds...